AC/DC – LIVE AT RIVER PLATE
DVD

By Shane Pinnegar

AC/DC’s huge “Black Ice” tour of 2009/10 rolled around the world relentlessly, playing to millions of rapturous fans along the way.

This DVD, filmed by David Mallet at The River plate arena in Buenos Aires, Argentina over 3 nights in December 2009 captures the band in high spirits and rude form.

With 32 cameras trained on the action, not much is going to slip through the net, and you get the whole shebang here.

Shot in precise high definition, it’s ironic to see this band, who must be the most gimmick-free hard rockers ever, put on a show with so many beloved and indispensible props.

There’s the cannons, the confetti, the dropping of the shorts during the guitar solo, the inflatable Rosie, the devil horns and so on – and despite the huge production and choreography, it never detracts from the great music on offer.

If there’s any down side to the show, it’s that AC/DC have become so choreographed that there is no room for the spontaneity of an impromptu change to the setlist. Oh wouldn’t it be great if they cracked out a ‘Givin the Dog A Bone’, ‘What Do You Do For Money Honey’, ‘Rock n’ Roll Damnation’ or similar once in a while.

But this is just wishful thinking – these old dogs aren’t interested in new tricks: they have their show perfected and they do it better than anyone. There’s some cool extras on the DVD too – check ‘em out.